wheat output set to meet target

AGENCIESMar 27, 2006, 02.01am IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre is confident of achieving the wheat output target of over 73m tonnes despite the recent untimely rains which, experts feel, could have affected the standing crop. "There is no problem about wheat output. We have looked at the situation. In fact, the harvesting has started in Madhya Pradesh and it would be undertaken from the middle of April in Punjab and Haryana," agriculture minister Sharad Pawar told reporters here on Sunday.

He said there was no threat to the wheat crop which, in many states, will come up for harvesting from the Baisakhi day on April 14. Wider temperature fluctuations had forced the agriculture ministry last month to revise wheat production estimate downwards to 73.1m tonne for Rabi in '06 against initial target of 75m tonnes.

Wheat production stood at 72m tonnes last year. However, wheat production estimate could still vary either way during third estimate of output released in April.Nearly six lakh hectare, lower than normal, wheat acreage in Malwa region of major producing state like Madhya Pradesh during the Rabi season also led to the downward revision.

The lower acreage was due to water stress, the officials said, adding the high quality durum variety of wheat will be less in quantity this year. Malwa region has been a durum producing wheat belt.The wheat production is likely to be 25.2m tonne in Uttar Pradesh as compared to 25.8m tonne last year.

Punjab is expected to produce nearly 15m tonne against 14.9m tonne while Haryana expects 9.5m tonne this year as against 9.2m tonne of last year.On wheat procurement, Mr Pawar said a clear picture on total procurement would emerge only in May when the process gets over. He expressed confidence of achieving 16.2m tonne wheat procurement target this year. The responsibility for achieving procurement target lies with Food Corporation of India, he added.

Mr Pawar also said the agency has already put in place all system for a successful procurement operation. On wheat imports, the minister added the first consignment from Australia is likely to arrive in the southern ports by March end.